Rodent and vermin exterminator



April 5, 1966 E. .1. CARRIERO RODENT AND VERMIN EXTERMINAI'OR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1963 INVENTOR.

EWfl/VOAZ cf ("if/ 550 2 Sheets-Sneet 2 April 5, 1966 E. J. CARRIERO RODENT AND VERMIN EXTERMINATOR Filed April 1, 1963 M 5/0 C a a 4 f w J i m United States Patent 3,243,913 RODENT AND VERMIN EXTERMINATOR Emanuel J. Carriero, 656 9th Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed Apr. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 269,628 1 Claim. (Cl. 43-98) My invention is directed toward a device for exterminating rodents, vermin and insects. It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved device of the character indicated which is particularly adaptable to exterminating rodents such as rats or vermin.

Another object is to provide a new and improved device of the character indicated which is particularly adaptable to exterminating insects.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved device of the character indicated which can be converted from a form in which the device functions as a rodent and vermin exterminator to a form in which the device functions as an insect exterminator.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent when this specification is studied together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a circuit diagram of my device as used as a rodent and vermin exterminator;

FIGURE 2 is a circuit diagram of my device as used as an insect exterminator;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view of my device as used as an insect exterminator;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the device of FIGURE 3 with the side walls partially separated;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of my device with the walls extended in flat position;

FIGURE 6 is a partial elevation view of the device of FIGURE 3 with a catch tray added;

FIGURE 7 is an elevation view of my device in the process of being converted from an insect exterminator to a rodent and vermin exterminator; and

FIGURE 8 is a partial elevation view of my device as used as a rodent and vermin exterminator.

Referring to FIGURE 1, terminals 10 and 12 represent the two terminal input from a power source such as US- volt, 60-cycles per second t-wo lead supply. Terminal 10 is connected through a first manually operated switch 14, a second manually controlled switch 34, a resistor (shunt) 16, a first capacitor 32, a first set of relay contacts 18 (when closed) to three paralleled electrically conductive electrodes 20. Terminal 12 is connected directly to three paralleled electrically conductive electrodes 22. (Each of electrodes 22 is placed adjacent but spaced apart from a corresponding one of electrodes 29.)

A semiconductor rectifier 24 and the winding 26 of a relay are connected in series to form a first network which is connected in parallel with resistor 16. A second set of relay contacts 28 (when closed) are connected in series with a second capacitor 30 (of relatively small capacitance) and switch 34 to form a second network connected in parallel with resistor 16. A third set of relay contacts 36 (when closed) connect the junction of capacitor 32 and contacts 18 to terminal 12.

A lamp socket 38 is connected between terminal 12 and the junction of switch 14 and resistor 16. Socket 38 is shunted by a third network constituted by the series connection of a fourth set of relay contacts 40 (when closed), and a neon bulb 42.

Contact sets 18, 28, 36 and 49 are all controlled by winding 26. When winding 26 is deenergized, contacts sets 18 and 28 are closed and contact sets 36 and 40 are open. When winding 26 is energized, contact sets 18 and 28 are open and contact sets 36 and 46 are closed.

When switches 14 and 34 are closed to turn the unit on,

ice

no current flows, and winding 26 is deenergized. The circuit is then as shown in FIGURE 1. When a rodent is caught in the trap and its body interconnects one or more electrodes with one or more electrodes 22, current flows through the body and electrocutes same. This current flow produces a voltage drop across resistor 16. This voltage drop causes a current to flow through rectifier 24 (which converts same to a direct current), through the closed contact set 28 and capacitor 36 (which is initially uncharged, and acts initially as a short circuit). This initial current does not flow through winding 26, since it is effectively shorhcircuited. After a short period of time, however, capacitor becomes fully charged and acts as a direct voltage block. Then the current can only fiow through winding 26 and energizes same.

With reference to FIG. 1 the operation of the device is as follows: The switches 14 and 34 are manually closed. When a rodent then bridges the electrodes 20 and 22 a complete circuit is made and current flowing from ter minal 10 through the resistor 16 and capacitor 32, passes through the normally closed relay contact 18 and through the rodent, electrocuting it, with the current passing through the terminal 12.

The voltage drop produced across the resistor 16 per mits current to flow through the rectifier 24 and the cur rent thus rectified. This rectified current initially charges the capacitor 39 through the normally closed contact 28. After a specific period of time as determined by the value of the capacitor 30 and the resistance of the winding of the relay 26, the capacitor 30 becomes fully charged and acts as a DC. block. The capacitor 30 then discharges through the winding of the relay 26, keeping it energized. The normally closed contacts 18 and 28 then open and the normally open contacts 36 and 40 now close. 'When the relay contact 18 opens, it ends the flow of current through the electrocuted rodent, thus preventing burning. The contact 44?, now closed, permits current to flow through the warning signal 42 to operate the same and to indicate the presence of a rodent in the trap.

When the capacitor 32 becomes fully charged it acts as a DC. block and prevents current from flowing through the relay winding 26, thus deenergizing the same and opening the circuit. The capacitor then discharges through the resistor 16. The light bulb socket shown in FIG. 1 at 38 can contain a screw-in food tray to lure an animal into the trap.

At this point, a circuit is completed which lights the neon bulb 42 to indicate that a rodent has been caught in the trap. When the rodents body is removed, the light is extinguished and relay winding 26 is deenergized to reset the trap.

In the arrangement thus far described, no lamp is in lamp socket 38. Food can be placed in the socket to lure the rodent into a trap.

When switch 14 is closed but switch 34 is open, the circuit thus described above is modified as shown in FIGURE 2. A lamp bulb 84 is placed in socket 38 and is lit, since socket 38 is connected across terminals 10 and 12. In addition a network consisting of resistor 16, capacitor 32, closed contacts 18 and electrodes 26 are all connected in series with terminal 10, and electrodes 22 are connected in series with terminal 12. In this arrangement, the device acts to kill insects. The insects are attracted by the lit bulb 84 in socket 38 and as they interconnect electrodes 24 and 22 are electrocuted. In this case no alarm light is energized since it is not necessary to remove the dead insects to reset the trap.

Referring now to the drawin s my device comprises a top insulated plate carrying a four prong polarized male fixture 52 adapted to receive electrical current from either top or bottom prong pairs by way of a female connection 54 to the voltage source. Conductors 56 and 53 conduct current from fixture 52 to the lamp socket 38; conductors 60 and 62 conduct current to electrodes 29 and 22 from fixture 52 as described hereinafter.

The top of plate 50 carries a loop 64 which is supported on hook 65 secured to a ceiling 67. My device further includes a bottom insulated plate 66 having a bottom knob 68 threadedly engaged therewith.

Four side pieces 70 extend between various sides of plates 50 and 66 and are hingedly connected to plate 50 to form a rectangular structure. Each of pieces 70 contain spaced apart electrodes 20 and 22 which are interleaved. Structures 70 each contain a first upper pair of magnets 72, which are connected to electrode 20, and a second lower pair of magnets 74, which are connected to electrodes 22.

Consequently, when magnets 72 of pieces 70 are placed into abutting contact with each other, current is supplied to all electrodes 20 and22 through the magnets. The magnets hold the pieces 70 together vertically to assemble the insect exterminator. A catch tray 76 can surround peripherally the bottom plate 66 being held in position by knob 68.

To convert the device of FIGURES 3, 4 and 6 into the form of FIGURES 5, 7 and 8, the vertical side pieces 70 are swung on their hinges 70a from vertical to horizontal positions and additional triangular or rectangular side pieces 80 are placed inbetween adjacent pieces 70. The side pieces 80 connect to the sides 70 by the pins 88:: (FIG. engaging in recesses 80b. Also magnets 85a may be used to hold the parts together. Pieces 80 carry electrodes 20 and 22 as well as magnet pairs 72 and 74 whereby pieces 70 and 80 can be held horizontally together (with the bottom plate 66 removed) by magnetic forces, and electrodes 20 and 22 are electrically connected in the manner indicated. At this point, the structure is inverted as shown in FIGURE 7. The structure is then removed from hook 66 and turned to the upright position and placed on a floor 82 as shown in FIGURE 8. The light bulb 84 is then removed to permit the device to function as previously described.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, my protection is to be limited only by the terms of the claim which follows.

I claim as follows:

An exterminator comprising a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode, a source of alternating current having one terminal electrically connected to said second electrode and the other terminal electrically connected in series through a resistor, a first capacitor,

and a first relay switch to said first electrode, a first shunt means connected to the terminals of said resistor and including a manually operated switch, a rectifier and a relay winding connected in series, a second shunt means connected to the terminals of said relay Winding and including a second relay switch and a second capacitor connected in series, a third relay switch connected in parallel with said electrodes and having one lead connected to the junction of said first capacitor and said first relay switch, a fourth relay switch connected in parallel with said electrodes ahead of said first shunt means and including a lamp connected in series therewith, said relay switches being operably controlled by said relay winding, said first and second relay switches being opened and said third and fourth relay, switches closed when said relay winding is energized.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,049,177 12/ 1912 Vetterlein 4398 1,549,161 8/1925 Sutton 43--1 12 2,030,310 2/ 1936 McWilliams et al. 43112 2,390,946 12/1945 Kneisley et a1 256'-1O X 2,401,815 6/ 1946 Dalziel 431 12 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Examiner.

W. H. CAMP, Assistant Examiner. 

